Bisping is a bellwether for Siena

There’s at least an element of truth in that, judging by Bisping’s statistics in the Saints’ seven wins this season: 11.6 points per game, 6.3 rebounds per game and 58 percent shooting from the field.

On the other hand, the 6-foot-8 sophomore forward has averaged 6.3 points and 2 rebounds with 38 percent shooting during Siena’s current three-game losing streak. Of course, those three games were against arguably the two best teams in the league in Iona (twice) and Manhattan.

“When Brett plays well, we usually win,” assistant coach Greg Manning said. “We need Brett to score the ball and really play well for us to be successful.”

Bisping wasn’t aware of the exact numbers but said the coaches have passed on to him the general concept that the team feeds off his play.

Saint Peter’s coach John Dunne, whose team faces Siena on Thursday night, said he can see why Bisping’s performance is so important to his team.

“I think he brings energy to their team when he’s playing well,” Dunne said. “It’s funny. He’s just a versatile player. He can score in the post and then he can step out and make a 3. I don’t coach him, but from afar, he looks like he’s a very unselfish player. So when you have an unselfish teammates, teammates love him. And when those guys that are unselfish play well, usually your teammates kind of rally around you, too.”